Convertible car.



No. 671,838. Patentd Apr'. 9, |904. n. K. a J. K. msnm.

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. (Applicmn mea my se. 1999.) (no landen.) 3 sheets-'sheet Aff' unam: vains caf, mormumo.. wAsLlNcmN, n, c.'

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v Patented Apr. 9, |90l.

R. K. &. J. K. INGRAM. CONVERTIBLE CAR;

(Application filed May 26, 1899.)

A FE No. 6Zl,888.

(No Model.)

No. 67I,888. Patented Apr'. 9,*l90l.

R. K. a J. K. INGBAM.

coNvl-:BTIBLB cAR.

(Application med May 26. 1899.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-,Sheet 3 me Nonm's Ersilia Co. vNoToLATHo, wAsmnsr'nN, D t;4

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT K. INGRAM AND JAMES K. INGRAM, OF LANSDOWNE, PENNSYL- VANIA, ASSIGNORS OF FIFTY-TWO ONE-HUNDREDTHS THOMAS CONWAY, OF SAME PLACE, AND JAMES HAINES OAFFREY, OF PHILA- DELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CONVERTIBLE CAR.

SPEGIZICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 671,888, dated April 9, 1901.

Application filed May 264, 1899.

To OLZZ whom/ it may concer-71,:

Be it known that we, ROBERT K. INGRAM and JAMES K. INGRAM, citizens of the United States, residing at Lansdowne, in the county of Delaware, State of Pennsylvania, have invented anew and useful Improvementin Convertible Cars, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings.

Our invention consists of a novel construction of convertible cars whereby a closed or winter car can be readily transformed to an open or summer car, as hereinafter fully set forth and claimed. j

Figure. l represents a perspective view of a convertible car embodying ourA invention, thesalne being shown as adapted to be used as a winter-car. Fig. 2 represents a perspective view of the car seen in Fig. 1, showing 2o the sides thereof removed and the car otherwise adapted for use as a summer-car. Fig. 3 represents, on an enlarged scale, a transverse View of a portion of Fig. l, showing the interior of the car when adapted for use as a winter-car. Figs. 4 and 5 represent transverse sectional views of the car seen in Fig. 2, showing the manner of supporting and securing the adjustable seats in a transverse position. Fig. 6 represents an end elevation 3o of Fig. l, showing the storm-guard in position. Fig. 6. Fig. 6. j

Similar letters of reference indicate corre- 3 5 sponding parts in the iigures.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a winter-car, the same being provided with the forward storm-guard B and the removable sides C, the latter having the upper and lower 4o wooden portions D and E, which are joined by the uprights DX, the lower portion E being reinforced by the metallic side or portion F, the windows being located between said upper and lower portions in suitable frames or sashes.

H designates ways 'which are formed between the posts or uprights J and the rib or bead K, which extends longitudinally of the Fig. 8 represents a section on line yy,

Fig. 7 represents a section on line m fr,"

Serial No. 718,380- (No model.)

car and depends from the top L thereof, the upper portion D of the removable side being located in said way, as will be evident from Figs. 3 and 4L, when the car is to be used asa winter-car. The inner surface of the lower portion E of each detachable side is provided with a longitudinally-extending groove or recess M, which is engaged bythe longitudinally-extending tongue N, which projects from the base or floor P of the car, the side C being held rigidly against said base when it is desired to use the car as a winter-car by vmeans of the bolts or other fastening devices Q, which pass through the adjacent side rails of the car.

R designates the bases of the car-seats, which latter, in the case of a winter-car, ordinarily extend longitudinally thereof, as will be understood from Fig. 3, said seats being each supported upon the frames S, each of which is permanent in place or constitutes a fixture of the iioor of the car and has alaterally-extending upper member T, provided with slots U, as will be understood from Fig. 5. The base of each seatis also provided with the slot V, whereby said seat is rigidly held in the desired adjusted position by means of the bolts W or other suitable fastening devices, which are readily accessible upon removing the car-seat X, as will be apparent. The said frames that support the seats in either the longitudinal or transverse directions of the ear are permanent on the iioor of the car, they being disconnected from the sides, so that they are not affected by either the removal or restoration of said sides, it being noticed that the width and length of the tops of said frames arein accordance with the room required in the direction that the rider is seated.

The bases of each of the car-seats are provided with the bracket or support Y, the upper portion of which is secured to said base in any suitable manner, while the lowerportion W of said foot is secured to the bottom or ioor of the car by any suitable fastening devices.

Z designates a series of brackets, which upwardly against -the member A' when not in use, -as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. el.

If desired, suitable clamps or fastening devices may be employed to hold the footboard in its desired positions.

In Figs. 6 to 8, inclusive, we have shown our improved construction of storm-guard, the same consisting of the upper and lower members H' and J', which are joined by the uprights K', in which are located the window frames or sashes for the windows L'. The upper portion H' has a groove N', which is adapted to engage the lip or tongue M', attached to the forward top portion P' of the car, while the lower portion J' of the stormguard has the angular member Q', the outer downwardly-depending lip R' of which rests upon the flange RX, and thus effectually prevents the elements from entering at this point.

The storm-guard is secured in position by means of straps S', which engage the forward rods or uprights T', one of said straps being preferably movable or adjustable, whereby thestorm -guard can be readily and expeditiously placed in position when it is desired. The central window L' is adj ustabl y mou nted in the Ways U' and is prevented from disengagement therefrom by means of the inner strip V', while the outer guard W' prevents disengagement of the window from its ways during the act of closing the same.

It will be apparent from reference to Fig. 7 that when it is desired to open the central window L' it is only necessary to push the side X' inwardly in the direction of arrow a,

whereupon saidwindow can be readily moved.

to the right of the position seen in Fig. 1, as is evident.

'Ihe operation is as follows: When it is desired to use thev car as a winter or closed oar, the same normally appears as indicated in Fig. 1, the sides C having their upper portions held between the ways H, while the lower portions thereof are securely held in position by the fastening devices Q, the car-seats appearing as indicated in Fig. 3 and the footboard appearing as seen in dotted lines in Fig. et and being held in this position by any suitable means. When it is desired to transform a winter-car into a summer or open car, thesides (l are removed by withdrawing the fastening devices Q, and upon loosening the boltsW and removing the lower fastening devices of the support Y the seat can be vernses shifted from the position seen in Fig. 3, so as to extend transversely of the car, as indicated in Figs. 4 and 5, it being understsod that the support Y moves in unison with the car-seat Iand the groove N' may not be quite tight, in

which case there would be a leakage therein duringastorm. We have therefore attached to the forward top portion P' of the car a hood or projecting piece A2, which is so situated as to direct rain or water beyond the 'front of the storm-guard; but this part may be omitted, if desired.

We are aware that it has been proposed to construct a convertible car with alternating stationary side sections or panels and doors,

jthe-latter being hinged to the former and i with shifting seat-sections. however, neither the panels nor the doors are removable or detachable from the car, and

In this structure,

when the doorsare opened to form a summercar they lie against the outer faces of the panels. The sides of the car are therefore only partially opened, although the doors and panels may have windows,and the free circulation of air is consequently obstructed, toa certain extent, which is objectionable. Moreover,tl 1e increased width of the car formed by the opened doors on each side is objectionable. To obviate these objections, we make the sides of the car detachable, so that they may be separated from the body of the car and removed entirely, leaving only the upright posts extending between the iioor and roof. This forms a car open throughout its sides and not only does not add to the width of the car, but reducesthe same, both of which results are advantageous. The seats being constructed .in sections and having means for shifting them from a position where they extend longitudinally along the sides of the car and facing inwardly toa position where they extend laterally inward from the sides of the car, facing an end thereofor vice versathe car is readily convertible into a summer or winter car.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A convertible car,consisting of atop having ways formed therein, a` iioor, removable sides for said car,interlocking devices com- -mon to said door and side pieces, the outer faces of the floor being provided withone of the members of said interlockingdevices, the inner faces, of the lower portions of` said side pieces being provided with the other mem- IOO IIO

bers of said interlocking devices, and fastening devices extending laterally through said side pieces and floor.

2. In a convertible car, a top having ways H, the latter being formed between the uprights J, and the depending longitudinallyextending rib K, removable sides for said car, interlocking devices common to the bottom and said side pieces, the outer faces of the ioor being provided with one of the members of said interlocking devices, the inner faces of lthe lower portions of said side pieces being provided with the other members of said interlocking devices, and fastening devices eX- tending laterally through said side pieces and oor.

3. A convertible car, consisting of a top, having ways formed therein between the uprights J and the depending rib K, removable sides for said car, the outer portions of said sides being reinforced by a metallic strip, a longitudinally -extending tongue projecting from the lower portion of the car, a longitudinally-extending recess or groove in the inner lower surface of the adjacent side, and fastening devices common to said sides and car.

4. A convertible car, consisting of a iioor, seat-supporting frames thereon, uprights eX- tending from each seat-supporting frame to the top of the car, a longitudinally-extendi ng rib depending from said top whereby ways are formed between said rib and uprights, removable sides for said car, the lower outer portion of said sides being reinforced by metallic strips, a longitudinally extending tongue on the lower portion of the car, a groove or recess on the inner contiguous surface of the adjacent side, and fastening devices common to said car and sides.

5. In a convertible car, a support for a carseat having a laterally-extending upper slotted member, a car-seat supported thereon and provided with a slotted base, a fastening device extending through the slots of the seatsupport and seat, a foot or support secured to said seat and movable therewith, and fastening devices for securing the lower portion of said support to the car-floor.

6. In a convertible car, a storm-guard, the

same consisting of upper and lower portions joined by uprights, fastening devices for securing said storm-guard in position, a groove N in said upper portion to receive a flange or tongue M on the top of the car, and a lower portion J carried by said guard and adapted to engage a supportingange R', whereby a tight joint is made at these points.

7. A storm-guard, consisting of upper and lower frames, uprights joining the latter, window-sashes held between said uprights, the center of said sashes being movable in ways formed between one of said windows, and an inner strip V', and an outer strip or stop W for preventing disengagement of the window from its ways in the act of closing.

8. In a car, a laterally-movable car-seat, a support therefor to which said seat is movably secured at or near one end thereof, and a foot or support secured at or near the opposite end of said seat and adapted to move therewith when said seat is shifted, the lower end of said foot or support resting upon the oor of the car when the seat is shifted to either position.

9. A convertible car, consisting of a top having ways formed therein, a floor, removable sides for said car, interlocking devices com mon to said floor and side pieces, the outer faces of said ioor being provided with one of the members of said interlocking devices, the inner faces of the lower portion of said side pieces being provided with the other members of the interlocking devices, fastening devices extending laterally through said side pieces and ioor, and a metallic reinforcing-strip secured to the lower portion of said side strip.

10. In a convertible car, detachable sides, seats therefor, supports for said seats whereby said seats may be turned in either longitudinal or transverse position in the car, and uprights mounted on said supports and connected with the top of the car.

ROBERT K. INGRAM. JAMES K. INGRAM.

Witnesses:

WM. C. WIEDERsHEIM, THOMAS CONWAY. 

